1) The document discusses disaster management and populations with special needs from both a disaster psychology and practical experience perspective. It defines different types of natural and man-made disasters and populations that require special consideration in disaster response like the elderly, children, and those with disabilities. 2) The theory section outlines common psychological reactions to traumatic events like denial, distress, withdrawal, and acceptance. It also discusses potential positive reactions in emergency workers like altruism, achievement, and bonding with colleagues. 3) The reality section examines how some of these reactions played out for survivors of a cyclone, noting shorter periods of denial and panic but more immediate acceptance and direction-following. It also discusses emergency workers feeling exhilarated

1. DISASTER
MANAGEMENT &
POPULATION WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS
DISASTER
PSYCHOLOGY: A
DUAL PERSPECTIVE
By – Narottam Priyadarshi

2. 2
Disaster -
Any occurrence that causes damage, ecological
disruption, loss of human life, deterioration of health
and health services on a scale, sufficient to warrant an
extraordinary response from outside the affected
community or area.(WHO)
A disaster can be defined as an occurrence either
nature or man made that causes human suffering and
creates human needs that victim cannot alleviate
without assistance. (American Red Cross)
Definition :

3. C l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f D i s a s t e r s
Natural
Disasters
Meteorological
Topographical
Environmental
Man made
Disasters
Technological
Industrial
Warfare
3

4. Meteorological
Disasters
• Floods
• Tsunami
• Cyclone
• Hurricane
• Typhoon
• Snow storm
• Hail storm
Topographical
Disasters
• Earthquake
• Volcanic
Eruptions
• Landslides
and
Avalanches
• Asteroids
Environmental
Disasters
• Global
warming
• El Niño-
Southern
Oscillation
• Ozone
depletion-
UVB
Radiation
4

5. Technological
• Transport
failure
• Public place
failure
• Fire
Industrial
• Chemical
spills
• Radioactive
spills
Warfare
• War
• Terrorism
• Internal
conflicts
• Civil unrest
5

6. Definition :
 Disaster Management can be defined as the
organization and management of resources
and responsibilities for dealing with all
humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in
particular preparedness, response and
recovery in order to lessen the impact of
disasters.

7. Disaster management continuum
PROACTIVE STRATEGY
FUNDAMENTAL
OF PROMPT &
EFFECTIVE
RESPONSE
HOLISTIC
AND
CONTINUOS
PROCESS
Incident
7

8. Special Needs Definitions
 Special needs populations include groups
whose needs are not fully addressed by disaster
service planners and providers who assume that
traditional services are sufficient.
 When the term ‘‘special needs’’ is used, it refers
to needs of the population of persons with
functional limitations who require unique
attention from disaster planners and those
professionals.

9. Possible Populations with
Special Considerations
 Children
 Elderly/middle aged
 Disaster workers/first responders/medical staff
 Ethnic/cultural groups/minorities
 Immigrants & migrant workers
 Refugees
 Individuals with disabilities (medical and
behavioral)
 Pregnant woman

10. Elderly/middle aged Children
disabilities pregnant woman

11. Refugees
first responders

12. DISASTER
PSYCHOLOGY: A DUAL
PERSPECTIVE

13. Introduction
 It is a well-known fact that individuals
react differently to stress and traumatic
incidents.
 During a traumatic incident, individuals will
act with surprising courage and level-
headedness especially when given some
form of leadership and an attainable goal.

14. Theory
 Psychological Effects of a Traumatic Incident
 As a person begins to realize the enormity(size) of the occurrence
and tries to come to terms with the horror, death of friends and
family, destruction of homes, and the fact of their survival, they tend
to go through recognizable set reaction stages from realization to
recovery.
 Denial (disagreement) and Shock
 During the early stages, after a loss or traumatic incident there
will often be a sense of denial of the existence of the event and
an inability to believe that the event has occurred.
 This is a visible sign of shock.
 Distress, Hopelessness, and Sadness
 A feeling that no matter what is done that there is no control
whatsoever over one’s destiny so one may as well just let it all

15.  Sleep Loss and Change of Habit
 Some will experience difficulty in sleeping and behavioral
changes such as an increased alcohol intake, changed eating
habits, heavy smoking, and loss of appetite.
 Alienation, Withdrawal, and Isolation
 On occasion even the most outgoing people will become
withdrawn from the rest of the community and even their closest
family, which can lead to alienation and develop into a sense of
isolation.
 Sorrow and Guilt
 A belief that ‘‘It’s my fault.’’ A feeling that if one had not been
there it would not have happened and family members would still
be alive.
 Panic
 A feeling of being trapped and the certainty of one’s death
combined with the inability to think of what to do to survive.

16.  Unable to Plan or Make Decisions
 The emotional pressures brought on by a traumatic event can cause
difficulty in one’s ability to plan for the future and to make decisions in
critical situations, especially those affecting the future of self and family.
 Anger, Hostility, and Resentment
 Usually directed at authority as a target of blame but can be directed to
those close and sympathetic to the victim
 Idealization
 This is a desire to grasp the past rather than face the uncertainties of
the future.
 Acceptance
 Eventually this will progress steadily toward acceptance of the scope of
the incident and the ability to plan for the future thus placing the incident
in its proper perspective.
 This develops a renewed strength, energy, hope, and confidence in the
future, in the vast majority of victims.

17. the Reality (Experience)
 Denial and shock.
 After the initial onset of the cyclone although this appeared to last an
extremely short time.
 Those who survived the cyclone, in the main, grasped the enormity of the
situation and willingly followed the direction of the authorities regarding
evacuation and casualty treatment.
 Panic
 Initial panic did set in but was immediately submerged in the need for
immediate survival.
 Idealization.
 Occurred sometime after the event during the rebuilding stage.
 Acceptance
 Acceptance seemed to appear before idealization and in many cases
even supplanted any feeling of panic.
 Anger, hostility, and resentment
 Anger was aimed at the authorities due to delays in the relief and
rebuilding program, not as a personal attitude toward family and
community members as a whole.

18. Reaction of Emergency Service
Personnel to Trauma
 Psychological Benefits of Emergency Work
 awareness has increased of the effects, both immediate and
residual, of post-traumatic stress experienced by emergency
workers resulting from exposure to extreme situations.
 This awareness and recognition is definitely a positive step in
the treatment of such stress.
 The following are regarded as positive characteristics although
not all emergency workers will demonstrate all discussed.
 Altruism (Humanity)
 It is often expected that at least part of the reason that emergency
workers participate in their role is a desire to help others.
 This is commonly the case with volunteer workers but can also be
noted amongst professionals.
 Adventure
 Excitement Seeking

19. Positive Reactions after a Major
Incident
 Exhilaration (High Spirit)
 Sense of achievement.
 One of the most powerful positive feelings that emergency
workers report is the sense of achievement or feeling good
about being of assistance (altruism)
 a feeling of achievement amongst the emergency workers is
essential, not only for their psychological well-being, but also
to gain positive practical lessons from the incident.
 Love of life and colleagues.
 It is the trust and bond between soldiers in the same section
(squad) who watch each other’s back.
 It manifests itself in an increased love of life and a strong
sense of ‘‘family’’ and a recognition that ‘‘only those who have
faced death can really appreciate life.’’
 Sense of control.

20. THANK YOU 